3 comments

• Hi PineupFaery, welcome to Bratabase! :) As for the Freya Deco (or rather, Freya bras in general), the band infamously runs a full band size too loose, so it is definitely not a bad idea at all to size down to a 32 band. I'm not experienced in the matter of general size comparisons between brands, but in general Freya's wires tend to be on the narrow side and CK is definitely wide (although the newer collections are supposedly less wide). I'm not 100% sure about Panache as I hear wires are different between models. Understanding your breast shape is a fundamental part of bra fit :) Hope this helps! <3

• For a lot of women the Deco runs a cupsize big too (maybe due to deepness) so you might wand to try a 34F/FF and 36E/F in other brands :)

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• It could work. I often find plunges more tolerable because their underwires cup up higher.

  The new Tutti Rouge bra seems to be wide in shallow in smaller sizes too, so that could be successful.

  Parfait by Affinitas also might be worth a shot.

  Freya/Fauve Half cups might also be worth a shot, especially the Fauve India Half Cup.

  The Charnos Cameo also looks quite shallow. Same with the brand Discover Mademoiselle.

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17 comments

• What did you order? I'm the same size in Ewa, High 5 :D

• I ordered the Pl Cappuccino and Milady. Again.
  This is the third time XD

  Were you also in between sizes 60G and 60GG or did they just make a mistake with mine?

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• No, this fit lady was utterly wrong. Breasts and bodies come in all shapes and sizes and whilst there certainly are women on whom the breast root stops before the armpit on many (most?) of us our breast root continues at least somewhat under the armpit.

• I thought so. I am really down right now because I tried a white Ciao Bella and it totally doesnt fit me, and its the same size and style as the pink Ciao Bella that everyone said fit. The pink one does feel and look better, but I am really thinking this bra fight is losing battle for a gal in the west with no options.

  RADIO

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8 comments

• I am new to this new bra size stuff. But, I do know that I am a 26.5 band and Mark and spencer plunge bra I received yesterday was tight on my 24 inch waist. I don't know if that helps any. I will have to put 2 band extenders on it when I get them so I can wear it. other than the band being like 23 or 24 I love the bra.

• Kris Line runs very tight, imo: I think they are a plus-four type of brand. You can look at the band measurements on this site to see how tight. I bought some bras from them years ago and they ran super-small in band AND cup.

  Panache mentioned that they might start making smaller bands in Cleo, so maybe drop them an email letting them know you want that? They do make 28s, but some of their bands are stretchy.

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• I probably won't be buying any Tutti Rouge bras because they don't seem to suit my shape, but if it did I'd snatch the red/black version of the Liliana that's coming this fall (I think it is?). It's way more up my alley than the bubblegum pink one.

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22 comments

• Elomi doesn't do 32 bands at the moment, although that might change.

• ohmyohmy I am aware of that. And I really hope they consider making 32 bands - especially in big cups J-L because there is a market for those sizes.
  Also I thought I could try the bras in 34J or 34JJ - if they would fit me in anything else apart from band I can always alter the band down.
  Also I really run out of options if I want to have other bras besides Panache Tango that fit me.
  I have a few that are ok-ish - like recently purchased Curvy Kate Gia in 32K but then: I get slight quadboob in it, and due to low gore and short wires on the sides I don't get the support that I expect from a everyday bra. So there are "occasions" bra for me out there - but I need bras that I can wear 12 hours a day and that feel supportive during that time and do not hurt me of course.

  ping: petalmoon didn't you try the Caitlyn? Can you recommend it?

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7 comments

• I also find Ariza to be too wide. When I tried Ariza, it was so wide and shallow, it crushed my boobs flat and wide. When I sized up to get enough depth, the wires were too wide.

  But Andorra gives me a very narrow, centered look. I think it has to do with how the depth is distributed, and with the sling. Maybe Ariza has more depth on paper but in use Andorra is deeper.

• Andorra also has that beautiful, forgiving stretch lace which really helps with fit. I know it's a go-to bra for a lot of women who are on the edge of being sized out of commercially available bras. It was still too wide for me, but I have a very small frame, and scaling of bras gets a bit weird down my end.

  I do think that there's a big difference between depth and effective depth of bras. If I could miraculously somehow angle the wires so that all of the cup points forward on my torso, the fit of this bra is pretty much spot on (though kind of tall). As it is though, my top inner quadrant escapes from the bra because there isn't enough room there, but I have a lot of bagginess at the sides. I could probably fit into a smaller cup size in some bras, if the bras were actually designed with me in mind, but as it is, I find I need to size up a bit to keep my breasts in check. I'm not going back for more with the Ariza though.

  If you have a lot of depth in the middle part of your breasts, your needs will be different than someone who has a lot of depth at the sides. If you have a lot of immediate projection, you may need a bigger bra than someone who has a more shallow gradient because your boobs desperately try and find the apex of the bra.

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8 comments

• I live in Canada and order from the UK and Poland ALL the time (I probably get a package at least once a week I order so often!) I've only gotten hit with customs fees a couple of times -- once was when I ordered several things from Bravissimo at once, and once was when I ordered something and it was shipped DHL (and apparently everyone gets hit with custom fees then.)

  My normal orders just come through Canada Post, and I just make sure not to order more than 1 or 2 things to keep the value somewhat low to try to avoid customs if at all possible.

• BumbleBean I already got hit three times in a row :( when I just ordered 1-2 bras from ASOS, Bravissimo and Brastop. Every time it was an insane amount so I'm not willing to risk it anymore. I've just got bad luck.

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Panache Sienna vs. Panache Harmony

Recently I realized that I must have suffered from reversed letterphobia when ordering that 30KK - Panache » Harmony Underwired Balconnet (4031). I never had a weirder fit in a bra. I couldn't fill the bottom of the cups, too wide wires by 2-3cm! (even though I need rather wide wires!) Also wrinkling on top and folding ... on bottom. The wires were painful and left me bruised since my boobs fought against the bra.
Now Panache Sienna (4471) is on my wishlist since forever.
I once tried it in 30J - Panache » Sienna (4471) and 30JJ - Panache » Sienna (4471) but both bras were too small in the cups on me and gave me a rather weird shape from the side (see 30JJ)

Now I'm thinking about trying Sienna in 34K again (exchange with another bratabaser) but I fear it will be the same disaster as Panache Harmony!
Or would Harmony work in a smaller cup/ bigger band?
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harmony 30kk

this bra will make you suffer - beware - it is truly evil - it's almost unpadded wires will give you bruises muahahaha it's evil I tell you!!!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/96373516@N07/sets/72157634179830364/

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Shared on Jun 23, 2013 Flag this

10 comments

• That looks like me in every Panache bra ever. If I do really well, I quad out the top and have the high wires and gapping at the sides. Panache Superbra and I haven't been friends since I was about a 28GG. I'm still waiting on that Ariza to show up from Ebay... I wonder how long I need to wait before I can start pestering the seller?

  I'd almost be tempted to try it out just for giggles. I'd love to see where my sizing is relative to your own, though I know I have a much shorter, narrower root than you. At a guess, it's going to be effectively spot-on, with wires which wrap around to my back, or effectively a tiny bit big, with wires which wrap around to my back. Curse international postage making the costs of this prohibitive.

  Considering the really crazy jump in wire width between the 30K/32JJ and the 30KK, I'd say that it may be worth trying in a different size. The wires on the Sienna in the 34K look kind of wide too, which is a shame, as it's a gorgeous bra. I wish that I could get that, and the Tango to work for me, the Sienna because it's so pretty, and the Tango because it's so functional.

• So I agree that this is reversed letterphobia. I don't see it as often as some would suggest, but here I see it. Very clearly.

  And I've been now sitting here and trying to figure out what is wrong with the Sienna on you.

  And I think I've come up with an answer finally.

  Same thing happened in Lucy. And same thing happened to me in Lucy. And same thing happened to me in Sienna.

  So I went looking for pics of Andorra. And there it is; http://www.bratabase.com/browse/panache/andorra-full-cup-5675/30J/

  Your boobs has a clear apex. That apex will fall out as far from your body as your bras will allow. This might be why you feel like "falling out" in Jasmine as well as you did in your Ewa PL trials.

  I also think this is why Tango actually works for you; your boobs wants to go outwards.

  I would explain the issue as a full on top problem. The top tissue forces the boobs to point slightly downwards and forward at the same time. The Tango shape if you like. Or blue shape. That pushes the bras outwards and if there isn't enough counter pressure backwards/inwards the bras will not give the shape we wanted them to. And we will end up looking "fallen out".

  I therefore think either our bras should have the apex of say Andorra/Tango/Ariza or the shape of Cleo Marcie/George. Sienna only works in a too small size.

  Also yes; halfcups should work wonders. Because they redistribute the apex higher up.

  Or we can start living with the fact that some boobs naturally does point down.
  

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18 comments

• A thousand times yes!
  I have the Celine fuller-cup style in a 34G and it fits great, but all their beautiful padded/half-cups in that size are too small in the cup and too large in the band :(

• They go up to GG in their plunge balconys, but I definitely see the problem. Their plunge balconys aren't shallow in my experience. I owned the Fauve Emmanuelle at one point, the wires were medium width, but those cups were ridiculously deep.

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11 comments

• Congratulations! :)

• How exciting! Congratulations from me too:D I wish my boyfriend would pop the question to me:( Sorry, I don't have any knowledge about the "Evie". , .

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More detailed survey about fit issues in different brands/bras/sizes

If you guys have a spare 10 minutes and fill this out for me

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1aUBl78hw65di3wvIjL4n3aulgLK4MDSQJp5q4NpKeq0/viewform

I will love you forever

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Shared on Jun 21, 2013 Flag this

amy__rebecca

1344 reputation

144 bras

8 comments

• Done it for you! I even included when I was a 32E 4 years ago!

• Thankyou so much <3

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• Same here. I have about 15 Frankenbra prototypes right now, but I have yet to cry "It's alive!"

• LOL. I have images of mad bra-scientists armed with seam rippers and needles and thread. For some reason, lab goggles and a white lab coat seem appropriate.

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• That's only one cupsize up, so if you're spilling out it shouldn't be too big, I'd only be worried about too small. :)

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Reassessing my shape/fit issues

After figuring out my size I tried on lots of bras and found that the centre gore almost never tacked properly, making me think I needed relatively deep cups. (I knew that Freyas - the classic narrow/deep option - didn't work for me at all, but when shallow/wide cups didn't seem to fit either, I wasn't sure what was going ... on.) In reality, I think the shape of my sternum just makes it difficult for gores to sit flat, even when the cups fit.

This didn't really click for me until I read the fit help request linked below and took a closer look at myself. Sure enough, my sternum is slightly curved, and there's a definite indentation between my ribs at underwire level. It makes sense that the gore hardly ever tacks there - it's not a flat surface. (For what it's worth, I'm thin with fairly prominent ribs, and whilst my breasts may be shallow they're very clearly separated at my sternum. There's about three fingers' width of space there.)

This might sound like I'm trying to justify wearing cups too small, but I've tried sizing up in the past, and it just gave me cups that were obviously too big (gaping, wrinkling). Back in 2011, when 28DDs seemed "too small" due to the floating gore issue, I tried a few 28Es and they were all too deep, which in turn made the wires press painfully against my ribs. Just to complicate things, I've lost a little weight since then and need a smaller cup size anyway. I just got a 28C - Mimi Holliday » Panna Cotta Super Plunge (AW11-210) and it's so low-cut that I'm not sure whether the cups are too small or just right, but the wire width feels fine, and it's surprisingly comfortable. This bra actually tacks better than most, for some reason.
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[Resolved]Gore Never Lays Flat | 30F - Panache » Porcelai...

The gore on every bra I own does not lay flat. Can anyone tell from the fit pictures why this ...

http://www.bratabase.com/troubleshoot/dhowa/

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Shared on Jun 18, 2013 Flag this

6 comments

• Yup, the complete opposite to someone like me that has a convex ribcage so slight pidgeon chest then.

  Chest shape, whether concave or convex, tall or short affects bra fitting in oh so many ways as to making it impossible to have a bra that "fits". The standards in bra fitting are not as logic as they might seem.

• That pic still looks like a bad bra fit though.

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6 comments

• If the wires in the Deco Honey are the same as those in the regular Deco, than most Ewa Michalak wires are going to be too short for you. The wires in the Deco boarder on too long for me and most EM wires fit me perfectly. EM sizing and shape varies though, so it would be best to compare the specific measurements in the exact size and style of bra you want.

• Different bra styles and manufacturers use different shaped wires. Full coverage bras should have longer wires than balcony or demi cup bras. You might do well with wires that are more vertical and a bit longer on the side. Gorteks uses this wire type frequently but not in all of their bras. Gorteks bras tend to run slightly narrow across cup. It's worth looking at Bratabase to find measurements that match bras you have that fit well.

  Bras that have longer side measurements (closer to 4 inches) may also fit better since the wires will likely be longer on the sides.

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10 comments

• I unwittingly tried this for a while with @Panache Tango Ii in 28H, but on this soft narrow girl, it led to nothing but discomfort. So far, only a technically one cup too big @Ewa Michalak PL Cielus has contained the boobage without issues. Part of the problem with Panache was the wire height, but I tended to ooze out the top while having loads of empty cup east, west and south. They mostly just want to be long, I think.

• psyc2321 Oh that doesn't sound like me no. On me to fit by this method they kind of have to be as compressed as possible against my chest to work. Not as much as a sportsbra, but somewhat in between sportsbra and halfcup compression I think :)

  In Ewa I think; Ewa puts me in 34G/36FF but for this method to work a 32J cup would probably work the best. So three cup sizes up and one band size down.

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3 comments

• I found the Claudette Dessous Mesh Underwire Bra (CD2000) to have closer set shoulder straps. It didn't seem to have an overly narrow or wide width with.

• Narrow-set? Let me know when you find them! That's on my wish list. Fantasie bras are kinda medium width but most have wide-set straps which keeps me from being their biggest fan.

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3 comments

• It can be frustrating! It will be much better in the end, though... :D

  When I started out, I had to go down band size again, after I thought I found my "real" one. I don't know if it was weight fluctuation or if the migration into boob-shape changed things or if it was the fact that I finally had a large enough cup to contain my boobs... I was solid 36-band, but now I'm sometimes 34, sometimes 36.

  Might want to consider getting 28 and wearing an extender while it breaks in?

• Of course your cycle can affect your underbust measurement. Women often retain or shed water at various points in their cycle. I usually swell up a little all over when I am going to have a period.

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